CAT 2026 Exam Date Announced: Registration Begins August 3 at iimcat.ac.in, Check Eligibility & Fees

The CAT 2026 exam date has been officially announced. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions, with IIM Indore as the convening institute this year. The registration process for CAT 2026 will begin on August 3, 2026, on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. Aspirants planning to apply for MBA and PGDM admissions at the 21 IIMs and 1,300+ affiliated B-schools should note down the eligibility criteria, application fee, and exam pattern details shared below before the registration window opens.

CAT 2026 Notification OUT 

The CAT 2026 Notification has been officially released, announcing the complete schedule for the MBA entrance exam. Eligible candidates can now check the notification for registration dates, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and other important details on the official website.

CAT 2026 Notification 

Latest Update

• Exam date: CAT 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions across the country.

• Conducting institute: IIM Indore is convening CAT 2026, returning to host the exam for the first time since 2020. Professor Aditya Billore of IIM Indore has been named the exam convener.

• Registration opens: August 3, 2026, at iimcat.ac.in.

• Registration closes: September 15, 2026.

• Admit card: Expected to be available for download from November 4 onwards (candidates should confirm the exact date once the admit card notification is released).

• Test cities: CAT 2026 is expected to be held across approximately 170–300 test cities and centres, similar to previous years.

CAT 2026 Important Dates at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria for CAT 2026

Candidates must meet any one of the following conditions to apply for CAT 2026:

• Hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwBD category candidates), awarded by a university incorporated under an Act of Parliament or State legislature, or a recognised deemed university.

• Hold a completed professional degree — CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) — with the required minimum percentage.

• Be in the final year of a Bachelor's degree programme, provided they meet the minimum marks requirement upon completion.

Candidates awaiting final results of their qualifying examination are also eligible to apply, subject to producing proof of graduation at the time of admission.

CAT 2026 Registration Fee

• The registration fee is a one-time payment, regardless of the number of IIMs or programmes a candidate applies to.

• SC, ST, and PwBD candidates must upload a valid category certificate at the time of registration.

• Fees, once paid, are non-refundable under any circumstances.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CAT exam tests candidates across three sections:

• VARC – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

• DILR – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

• QA – Quantitative Aptitude

Note: The detailed sectional time limits and exact question-type breakdown for CAT 2026 should be confirmed against the official Information Bulletin on iimcat.ac.in, as minor pattern tweaks have occurred in past cycles.

How to Apply for CAT 2026

1. Visit the official website — iimcat.ac.in.

2. Register using your name, mobile number, and email ID to generate login credentials.

3. Log in and fill out the application form with personal, academic, and programme-preference details.

4. Upload the required documents, including photograph, signature, and category certificate (if applicable).

5. Pay the application fee online.

6. Download and print the confirmation page for future reference.

Previous Trends: How CAT Dates Have Moved Over the Years

The responsibility of conducting CAT rotates among six older IIMs — Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore. IIM Indore last conducted the exam in 2020 and returns as the convening institute for CAT 2026.